Articles – free exercise 2 (Little Red Riding Hood)

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Decide if you use the definite article, the indefinite article or no article. If you do not use an article, choose the dash (-).

Rotkäppchen und der Wolf

Es war einmal Mädchen.the girl is mentioned for the first time → indefinite articleOnce upon a time, there was a girl. Mädchen lebte mit seiner Mutter Dorf am Waldesrand.1. the girl has already been mentioned → definite article|2. both articles are possible but express different meanings|definite article = there is only one village on the edge of the forest|indefinite article = the village is unknownThe girl lived with her mother in a small village on the edge of the forest. Seine Großmutter hatte Häuschen Wald.1. the cottage is mentioned for the first time → indefinite article|2. we're talking about about a specific forest (there is only one forest near the village) → definite articleHer grandmother had a nice little cottage in the forest Als Mädchen klein war, nähte Großmutter ihm Käppchen aus Samt.1. the girl has already been mentioned → definite article|2. the grandmother has already been mentioned → definite article|3. the riding hood is mentioned for the first time and is not unique → indefinite article|4. name of material → no articleWhen the girl was little, her grandmother sewed her a riding hood made of red velvet. Käppchen war so hübsch, dass Mädchen es Tag und Nacht trug. Seitdem nannten es alle nur Rotkäppchen.1. & 2. the riding hood and the girl have already been mentioned → definite article|3. & 4. Tag und Nacht is a set phrase with two nouns → no articleThe riding hood was so beautiful that the girl wore it day and night. From then on, everybody called her Little Red Riding Hood.

Eines Tages erkrankte Großmutter.the grandmother has already been mentioned → definite articleOne day, the grandmother was taken ill. Mutter rief Rotkäppchen in Küche und sagte:1. the mother has already been mentioned → definite article|2. a house usually only has one kitchen so it is a specific kitchen → definite articleThe mother called Little Red Riding Hood into the kitchen and said, Rotkäppchen, hier hast du ein Stück Kuchen und eine Flasche Wein, bringe sie zur Großmutter, damit sie schneller gesund wird.“ 1. addressing someone directly → no article|2. & 3. in noun phrases (ein Stück Kuchen, eine Flasche Wein, we do not use an article before the second noun“Little Red Riding Hood, here is a piece of cake and a bottle of wine, take them to your grandmother so that she gets better faster.” Also machte sich Rotkäppchen auf Weg.sich auf den Weg machen is a set phraseSo Little Red Riding Hood set off.

Sobald Rotkäppchen in Wald kam, begegnete ihm Wolf.1. it is a specific, previously mentioned forest → definite article|2. both articles are possible but express different meanings|definite article = specific wolf (e.g. referring back to the title “Rotkäppchen und der Wolf”)|indefinite article = mentioning the wolf for the first time in the storyAs soon as Little Red Riding Hood entered the forest, she met an evil wolf.
„Wohin gehst du, Rotkäppchen?“ fragte Wolf.1. directly addressing someone → no article|2. the wolf has already been mentioned → definite article“Where are you going, Little Red Riding Hood?” asked the wolf.
„Zu meiner Großmutter,“ antwortete Rotkäppchen.
„Und wo wohnt deine Großmutter?“
„Kennst du riesige Eiche, die Jahr vom Blitz getroffen wurde? Unter dieser Eiche steht ihr Häuschen.“1. specific oak tree (defined by a relative clause) → definite article|2. we do not use articles with temporal adverbs such as letztes Jahr, Mitte August“To my grandmother” answered Little Red Riding Hood.
“And where does your grandmother live?”
“Do you know the huge oak tree that was struck by lightening last year? Her house is under that oak tree.”

Daraufhin verabschiedete sich Wolf und lief ganz schnell Häuschen der Großmutter.1. the wolf has already been mentioned → definite article|2. specific house (the grandmother’s house) → definite articleThen the wolf said goodbye and ran to the grandmother’s house. Er sprang auf Bett, in dem Großmutter lag, fraß sie auf und legte sich selbst unter die Decke.1. specific bed (defined by a relative clause) → definite article|2. the grandmother has already been mentioned → definite articleHe jumped on to the bed where the grandmother lay.

Schließlich kam auch Rotkäppchen am Häuschen an, drückte Türklinke und ging hinein.specific door handle (one that lets you into the cottage) → definite articleEventually, Little Red Riding Hood arrived at the cottage, turned the door handle and went inside. Die Großmutter lag auf dem Bett unter einer dicken Decke und sah etwas seltsam aus. Rotkäppchen fragte:
„Aber Großmutter, warum hast du so Augen?“1. directly addressing someone → no article|2. never use the definite article after so and solcheHer grandmother was lying on the bed under a thick blanket, she looked a little strange. Little Red Riding Hood said, “Grandmother, what big eyes you have!”
„Damit ich dich besser sehen kann.“
„Und warum hast du so Ohren?“never use the definite article after so and solche“All the better to see you with.”
“And what big ears you have!”

„Damit ich dich besser hören kann.“
„Und warum hast du so Zähne?“never use the definite article after so and solche“All the better to hear you with.”
“And what big teeth you have!”

„Damit ich dich fressen kann! “ schrie Wolf, stürzte sich auf Rotkäppchen und fraß Mädchen auf. Vollgefressen, schlief er ein und begann, laut zu schnarchen.1. & 2. the wolf and the girl have already been mentioned → definite article“All the better to eat you with!” roared the wolf as he pounced on Little Red Riding Hood and ate the poor girl up. Stuffed, he slept and began to snore loudly.

Etwas später kam Jäger Haus vorbei.1. both articles are possible but express different meanings|indefinite article = mentioning the huntsman for the first time|definite article = there’s only one huntsman in the village|2. the cottage has been previously mentioned → definite articleA little while later, a huntsman came by the cottage. Er wunderte sich, warum die alte Frau so laut schnarchte, schaute Häuschen hinein und sah Wolf.1. the cottage has been previously mentioned → preposition (in) + definite article (das) = ins|2. both articles are possible|definite article = the wolf has already been mentioned in the story|indefinite article = the huntsman is seeing the wolf for the first timeWondering why the old woman was snoring so loudly, he looked in the cottage and saw the wolf. Da nahm er sein Messer und schlitzte Wolf Bauch auf. Rotkäppchen und seine Großmutter kamen gesund und munter heraus.1. the wolf has already been mentioned → definite article|2. the wolf only has one belly → definite articleHe took his knife and slit open the wolf’s belly. Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother came out alive and well.

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